Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"I'm Irish American"

682 replies

MacMahon · 31/10/2021 07:44

I've noticed that to many Americans their Irish, Scots, Italian etc. roots are a big part of their current identity. As a nation of immigrants in a New World I can see why this link to earlier generations is interesting and important.

But it's also something I find confusing.

I live in Yorkshire. I'm English. I have Irish ancestors on both side (great grandparents and great x2 grandparents). If I was in America this would quite possibly be a big deal. I'd be an Irish American and identify with the struggles and persecution that my people suffered at the hands of the English. But I wasn't born in America, I was born in Leeds, and my Irish ancestry play zero role in my identity.

I'm on an ancestry group and Americans are getting that DNA test done and finding out that, contrary to family lore that they are Cherokee or Mexican or Italian Americans, they're actually pretty much 'just' 100% British.

It makes me wonder how authentic this celebrating or identifying with their Irish/First Nations/Italian roots is, and how much is just (mistaken) tribalism and division.

OP posts:
MysweetAudrina · 31/10/2021 08:14

Plastic paddy's I think is the term. Let them crack on. Doesn't detract from my experiences.

Summerfun54321 · 31/10/2021 08:15

I spent 6 months in rural/remote places in the US and met many people who’d never left the US. I was amazed how many people wanted to visit Scotland or Ireland. I think they’ve just done a great PR job over there and they seem like exotic exciting places to visit full of history. I expect that’s part of the reason they want to be associated with that heritage. No one would give 2 shits here in the U.K. if I told them I was half Scottish or had been to Scotland on holiday.

BurnedToast · 31/10/2021 08:15

I meant patriotic not patriarchal. Although, they are that as well.

MysweetAudrina · 31/10/2021 08:17

@BurnedToast

Maybe they just think it makes them sound more interesting. It is odd though for a country who tends to be very patriarchal, and in general think there the dogs bollocks of countries. All that America is great crap and the constant line of "most powerful country,/president etc". Seems lots of them don't actually want to be seen as just American and like to add a special label based on some long lost relative.

I think the most ridiculous one is Joe Biden, who I have regularly heard saying "I'm Irish". No you're not, you twunt, you're American. Hmm

He reportedly said to the Pope recently, i bet I am the only Irish man you've met who has never had a drink. I did raise my eyes a bit at that as loads of Irish men don't drink including my Dad and dh. But of course the Pope won't have met them and even if he did I don't think that would be something they would feel needed mentioning.
BurnedToast · 31/10/2021 08:22

Nothing like stereotyping there Joe Shock. I've just read up that it was his great great grandfather who was Irish. Grin My great, great GF was German. That doesn't bloody we'll make me Gean seeing as I'm born and raised in the UK. It's all very selective as well, pretty much always Italian, Irish or Scottish.

BurnedToast · 31/10/2021 08:22

I had no idea this annoyed me so much Confused

Workinghardeveryday · 31/10/2021 08:22

I have always thought it ridiculous how Americans do this.

I always want to say something along the lines of, ‘No, your not Irish are you? You were born in America, so you are American. Just because your great great grandma shagged an Irish man does not make you Irish’. 😬

GalesThisMorning · 31/10/2021 08:23

It's just a different culture, that's all. Being Irish American is different than being Italian American for many people. It will affect their family, their traditions and their culture.

It is really offensive to imply that African Americans ought to have abandoned their heritage by now and simply be "American".

chocolatecerealcampingbrekkie · 31/10/2021 08:23

They are not doing any harm so I don't see the problem.

Howshouldibehave · 31/10/2021 08:23

I’m a bit fan of the Scottish books/TV series Outlander and on a FB group where there are loads of Americans who have done some genealogy test telling them they are 50% Scottish and a member of a certain Scottish clan which they get very excited by. They were all born in the US, as were their ancestors going back many generations!

50% Scottish?!

I can’t help but think these companies doing the dna tests are just onto a money spinner!

Muttly · 31/10/2021 08:24

We also have a museum in Dublin celebrating the hows and whys these people had to leave Ireland. It is called the EPIC museum and it probably would help you understand how people who left in less than ideal circumstances loved to carry that part of their identity forward. The Irish, as a non colonial country, are exceptionally proud of their diaspora too.

Lottapianos · 31/10/2021 08:24

'I did raise my eyes a bit at that as loads of Irish men don't drink including my Dad and dh

Oh god, the Irish and Scottish stereotypes about boozing drive me mad! You hear English people say it too Hmm the drinking culture is exactly the same in England as it is in Ireland and Scotland - that's to say, some people drink to excess (and this is largely normalised), plenty of people drink moderately, plenty of people don't drink at all

FETOCT2021 · 31/10/2021 08:24

It’s silly isn’t it. Both my grandparents were Irish but I certainly don’t call myself Irish. I was born in England so I’m English

Muttly · 31/10/2021 08:25

Celebrating is probably not the right word, acknowledging is probably appropriate

Teatoast00 · 31/10/2021 08:25

I find it cringe. I'm from Northern Ireland and there's nothing worse than enthusiastic American tourists coming off with "Do you know 'ancestor' from xxxx?" No, just because the island of Ireland is small overall doesn't mean I know everyone....I barely know my neighbours Grin.

EileenGC · 31/10/2021 08:26

But in you are born and live in the country you should accept that country as home.

Does the country accept you fully though?

How many times do people say ‘my children’s Polish/Indian/Nigerian classmates…’? Children born in the UK to parents who have been here for decades - do we accept and see those kids as British too?

I say this as a child born to immigrant parents, so I do know what I’m talking about.

NutellaEllaElla · 31/10/2021 08:26

Yes I can really see how Joe Biden was demonstrating his 'cultural Irish heritage' there.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 31/10/2021 08:29

If Irish Americans are proud of their ancestry then let them crack on.

I agree, it's generally harmless. As long as they aren't stirring up old hatreds, not understanding we are trying to move on from that.

junebirthdaygirl · 31/10/2021 08:29

I am lrish. My dsis lives in the States and has 3 dc. They are very involved in the lrish Community..play lrish sport etc while being totally American through the education system, friends etc. But they absolutely love lreland and feel so connected when they come on visits. They are fascinated by the family history , love talking to elderly relatives and totally identify as lrish. I have no idea what will happen as the next generation comes along but l would have a big problem with anyone denying they are lrish.
Also due to our lrish history we relied on our people who had emigrated to the US to help us in our fight for freedom over the centuries so l think it was in our best interests to encourage people to hang on to their lrishness as long as possible. We are after all a tiny island hanging off Europe so having our diaspora throughout the world is a support for us on the lnternational stage.
It can get annoying if their ancestors are way back but the lrish are inclined to stick together in the US so there is a strong identity.

Yourstupidityexhaustsme · 31/10/2021 08:30

God yes! I had an international friend at uni who was American. EVERYTHING in her room was Irish themed - leprechauns, the Irish flag, clovers.

She always said ‘oh I’m Irish’ I thought idk a parent or both parents were Irish, maybe she was born in Ireland and emigrated. No no, her Great-Great Grandparents on her Dad’s side were Irish and came over childless as newly weds in something like 1870.

sst1234 · 31/10/2021 08:30

@EileenGC

But in you are born and live in the country you should accept that country as home.

Does the country accept you fully though?

How many times do people say ‘my children’s Polish/Indian/Nigerian classmates…’? Children born in the UK to parents who have been here for decades - do we accept and see those kids as British too?

I say this as a child born to immigrant parents, so I do know what I’m talking about.

Yep it’s mulch harder to be brown and American. Or Brown and English or Scottish. It always comes back to ‘where are you from’?
iamtheoneandonlyyy · 31/10/2021 08:31

I think pride in heritage is lovely

logsonlogsoff · 31/10/2021 08:32

Almost ALL Americans were immigrants original and it’s a huge part of their identity. Many still are. DW for example has one set of immigrant grandparents on one side and immigrants great gps on the other - so her family really haven’t been American that long.
I bet if pretty much everyone in England was from immigrant
Roots in the last couple hundred years you’d be much more interested.

FluffyBooBoo · 31/10/2021 08:33

@shouldistop

I'm scottish. I've been to the states 3 times. Every time I've been I had various Americans telling me they were 'scotch' too Hmm
Just look at them confused and say 'really? Whisky or egg?'
chocolatecerealcampingbrekkie · 31/10/2021 08:35

This thread has give me a laugh.

Swipe left for the next trending thread